From that first night when he was twelve, and the three had come crawling through his window, Charlie Cross was marked. For years afterward, it was the same as if he had stepped back in time.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSMNMUA6wW
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They looked exactly the same.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpFqHisk56
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They asked the same thing of him.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvEmmiOwqJ
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Always the same thing.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoTkgMuUgg
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“We chose you. We want you to join us. We want you to kill with us, Charlie. So we can stay here. Won't you do it?”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxrvHadgQ8
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And he always refused, terrified of what would happen if he didn't. Would they ask him to kill his parents or friends?403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XnJjGtk7Y
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“They're important to you,” Liam told him. “But we need you. You're the fourth.”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDwNIl8zQE
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Olivia slipped her arms around Liam, her chin on his shoulder. “We'll just keep coming, you know.”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFUMwOlS5Z
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They had kept that promise. When Charlie turned sixteen, he thought somehow he was safe, that he had reached the age where nothing could get him. He was wrong.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qs6aZMrtx
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He was sitting on the couch, remote in hand, after everyone had gone to sleep. He kept hearing footsteps upstairs, and assuming it was his parents, he allowed himself to drift off to sleep.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeSVaxZcEp
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But he had barely closed his eyes when a familiar voice called his name. He sat up, eyes wide. But he wasn't afraid. He knew they would come again, just like before. He was stupid to think they were still imaginary, even after all this time.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihiuwbS5NP
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That was when he saw her, standing by the TV. She twisted her long blonde hair around a finger. Her brown eyes fell on his startled face, and she smiled. “Hello, Charlie,” she said softly.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsspK95XUoV
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“Olivia,” he said. “Hi.” He looked around. “Where are Liam and Carly?” He thought it was strange that she was here, alone, a week before Halloween.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvnBVapktQ
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As she sat next to him, he caught a scent that made his stomach churn. Blood. He knew that smell all too well. He wanted to ask her about it, but thought better of it.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHkjZ6VY9N
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“Don't kill him, Liv.”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQhD8UWlfF
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Carly emerged from somewhere in the darkened room, making Charlie wonder if she had been there the whole time. He never got used to the sight of her slashed neck, or the smell of rotten flesh.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dhQ4LsJ9h
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“I was just talking,” Olivia said. “Nothing wrong with that.”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdhANnuqSz
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“You're trying to persuade him.” Liam put a hand on Olivia's shoulder, his nails digging in. “Aren't you, sweetheart?”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUXFLShpzy
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“Of course not,” Olivia said. “Charlie can make his own choices.”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vbohXgIq5
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“It's not Halloween,” Charlie reminded them. “And I'm not going to help you, I'm sorry. I won't kill anyone.”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlArdih5Pm
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Olivia's eyes darkened and she scowled. “Yes, you are.” She slid her nail along his arm, some blood trickling down his skin. “You refuse us again and you'll be sorry.”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLoRhkBYKS
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“Olive!” Carly shouted. “No, we talked about this. We need him, so you cannot hurt him. He's the fourth.”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xVubdMNxT
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“The fourth what?” Charlie asked. “You said that before. I don't know what you mean.”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGc6lqjYxjY
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“One more person makes us stronger,” Liam answered. “Each of us needs to feed on someone to continue to gain access to this world during Halloween night.”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWunJzXYr7
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Charlie shook his head. “This is such a nightmare,” he whispered.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuuTxkXF0Q
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“Only it's not,” Carly said, sitting on his other side. She glanced at the others. “We have to tell him.”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sAxSbRV3A
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They nodded.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hOdoHJym1
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“Tell me what?” Charlie asked.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKIFzwHcOr
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Liam spoke, his voice apologetic. “This is your last year to refuse us. You won't get another chance next time.”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIx60WIO150
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Charlie swallowed, his pulse racing. “What are you talking about?”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTjlSdRFZV
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“We've lived so long because of others. Eventually, before their sixteenth year was up, they agreed to help us.” He cast a glance at Olivia. “Until she decided we didn't need them anymore.”403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATEaQC1LMT
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Now he understood.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrKzAquduY
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Every year for as long as Charlie could remember, he'd heard the stories. Halloween had come and gone, and with it, another body. Everyone thought some troubled teen had decided to take off.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dLwOElqt9
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But Charlie knew the truth now.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrhKq025R2
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And he prayed he wouldn't be next. 403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5J0Pe0ERkf
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